Amador
County
Biographies
DAVID MATTLY
Since an early period in the
development of California David Mattly has resided within the borders of the
Golden state and is now an esteemed resident of Jackson, Amador County. For many years he was a representative of the
industrial interests, carrying on an extensive dairy business, but at the
present time is living retired, enjoying the rest which he has truly earned and
richly deserves.
A native of the land of the Alps, he
was born on the 25th of December, 1831, and his parents, Felix and
Kate (Gerrich) Mattly,
were also natives of that land, belonging to old families of that country. Our subject was reared and educated there and
in 1853 came to America. Two years later
he made his way to California, by way of the Isthmus route, crossing Panama on
the railroad, which had just been completed.
He came direct to Placerville, where he was engaged in placer mining for
some time. The work, however, was very
hard and at most he could make only twelve dollars a day. On one occasion he took out a nugget worth
ten dollars, found near Georgetown.
He followed mining only for a year,
however, and then started out in the milk business at Placerville, having
twenty-five cows. He received a dollar
per gallon for milk in the early days and made money rapidly, his business
steadily increasing in magnitude. After
a time he was forced by popular demand to keep forty cows, and throughout the surrounding
country he sold the products of the dairy until 1857, when he disposed of his
business at Placerville and removed to Jackson, where he purchased fifteen
acres of land. There he again embarked
in the dairy business, and owing to his industry and systematic methods his
trade steadily increased and his income proportionately grew. As his financial resources became larger he
added to his landed possessions until he is now the owner of two thousand acres
in Jackson and adjacent counties. He has
had and handled as many as two hundred head of cattle at one time; but he is
now living retired, the fruits of his former toil supplying him with all the
necessities and many of the luxuries of life.
He made the dairy business his chief occupation throughout his active
career, but at one time was the owner of the Globe Hotel at Jackson.
In 1899 Mr. Mattly erected a very
attractive and commodious residence on Main Street in Jackson and there he and
his family are living. He was married in
1860 on Sutter Creek to Miss Mary Yager, a native of
Switzerland, and their union has been blessed with nine sons, six of whom are
living, namely: William, David, George,
John, Albert and Joseph. These sons are
still with their father and are carrying on the dairy business as his
successors. Mr. Mattly is of the
Catholic faith, while his wife is a Protestant in her religious belief. He has been a life-long Democrat and since
1862 has been connected with the Masonic fraternity. He also belongs to the Independent Order of
Odd Fellows, the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Chosen Friends.
For many years his life has been one
of ceaseless activity in the business world.
Industry and enterprise are numbered among his chief characteristics,
and through the aid of these qualities he advanced steadily on the road to
prosperity. Meeting with creditable
success, he won a handsome competence and is now in possession of a property
that enables him to live retired. He has
surrounded himself with a large circle of friends who were won to him by his
genuine worth and his unselfish interest in his fellow men.
Transcribed by
Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
“A Volume of Memoirs and Genealogy of Representative Citizens of Northern
California”, Pages 474-475. Chicago Standard Genealogical Publishing Co. 1901.
© 2010
Gerald Iaquinta.
Golden Nugget Library's Amador County Biographies